System for improving heat insulating characteristics of existing curtain walls and the like

Abstract

A system for improving the heat insulating characteristics of existing wall structures, which wall structures include panels and panel edge supporting frames with pockets in a jamb face thereof receiving an edge of the panels. The system includes an elongated stop element having a base adapted to be secured to the jamb face and extended into the pocket after the existing panel has been removed therefrom. The stop element includes a flange extending outwardly of the jamb face to form a supportive side wall of a new glazing pocket adapted to receive an edge portion of a new insulating type panel. An elongated flange element is adapted to be secured on the existing frame in spaced alignment with the flange of the new stop element to form an opposite side wall for the new glazing pocket for securing the new insulating panel in place.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A system for the conversion of an existing wall structure into an insulated panel wall structure, said existing wall structure including a panel to be removed and a panel edge supporting frame having a pocket in a jamb face; said system comprising: an elongated stop element having a base adapted to be secured to said jamb face extending into said pocket after removal of said existing panel therefrom;   said stop element including a first flange extending outwardly of said jamb face forming one side wall of a new pocket for receiving an edge portion of an insulating panel and a second flange extending along said jamb face closing over said pocket forming a bottom wall of said new pocket; and   an elongated flange element adapted to be secured on said second flange in spaced parallel alignment with said first flange of said stop element forming an opposite side wall of said new pocket for said insulating panel.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein said stop element includes key means extending into said jamb pocket for aligning said stop element in position on said frame. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2 wherein said key means includes tongue means for keyed interlocking engagement with a recess in a side wall of said jamb pocket. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2 wherein said key means includes a surface engaging said frame for transmitting windloads acting on said insulating panel in one direction to said frame. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 including fastener means securing said stop element on said frame remote from said key means for transmitting wind loads acting on said insulating panel in an opposite direction to said frame. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 1 wherein said flange element and said stop element include key means providing interlocking keyed engagement therebetween for positioning said flange element to form said opposite side wall of said new pocket in parallel with said first flange. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein said interlocking means includes clip means secured to said stop element. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 5 including a cover element secured to said clip means spaced outwardly of said frame. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 8 including an elongated seal between said cover element and said flange element. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9 including an elongated seal between said flange element and said insulated panel. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 9 or 10 including an elongated seal between said stop element and said insulated panel. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 8 wherein said cover element includes a deflectable portion adapted to snap into locking engagement with said clip means. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 8 wherein said cover element includes a portion providing a new jamb surface spaced outwardly of said jamb face of said frame. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13 wherein said clip means provides a heat insulating spaced relation between said cover element and said jamb face of said frame. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 8 including a second clip mountable on said frame spaced from said clip means for supporting said cover element remote from said clip means. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15 wherein said second clip and said clip means are formed of heat insulating material supporting said cover element spaced apart from said frame in heat insulated relation thereto. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 15 wherein said second clip includes positioning means for locating the same on said frame in selected spaced relation to said clip means. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said clip means and second clip includes means for retaining said cover element in position on said frame. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18 wherein said cover element is deflectable for movement into and out of engagement with said retaining means. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 15 wherein said frame includes a second jamb surface supporting said second clip in spaced apart relation to said clip means. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 20 wherein said cover element is mounted to span between said second clip and said clip means is outwardly spaced to said frame. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 20 wherein said second jamb surface is generally normal to said jamb face. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 20 wherein said second jamb surface is in spaced apart parallel relation with said jamb face. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 20 wherein said jamb face and said second jamb surface intersect to form a corner on said frame and said cover element is in spaced covering relation around said corner. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 20 including an elongated seal between said cover element and said second jamb surface. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 15 wherein said clip means comprises a plurality of heat insulating clips spaced apart on said frame longitudinally thereof including a plurality of heat insulating second clips spaced apart on said frame longitudinally thereof. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 6 wherein said interlocking means includes clip means formed of heat insulating material secured on said frame. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein said interlocking means includes elongated tongue and groove connectors formed on said flange and said stop element. 
     
     
       29. The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein said interlocking means includes means for spacing said side walls of said new pocket a selected distance apart. 
     
     
       30. The system of claim 29 wherein said last mentioned means includes clip means with a gauging element for providing said selected spacing between said side walls when said elements are secured in place on said frame. 
     
     
       31. The system of claim 1 including an elongated seal between said elongated stop element and said jamb face. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim 31 wherein said stop element includes an elongated groove facing said jamb face and said seal is mounted in said groove. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim 31 or 32 including an elongated seal between a face of said insulated panel and said flange of said stop element. 
     
     
       34. The system of claim 1 including an elongated seal between said elongated flange element and said jamb face. 
     
     
       35. The system of claim 34 wherein said flange element includes an elongated groove facing said jamb face and said seal is mounted in said groove. 
     
     
       36. The system of claim 34 or 35 including an elongated seal between a face of said insulated panel and said flange element. 
     
     
       37. The system of claim 1 or 31 including an elongated seal between said stop element and a face of said insulated panel. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim 37 including an elongated seal between said flange element and a face of said insulated panel. 
     
     
       39. The system of claim 1 or 34 including an elongated seal between said flange element and a face of said insulated panel. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim 39 including an elongated seal between said stop element and a face of said insulated panel.